Joseph, Jr. & Louvada Martin Coffey

Merry Christmas

Joseph and Louvada were married in Wayne Co., KY in 1902.  He was born there in 1886 to Joseph, Sr. and Louisa J. Jones Coffey.  She was a daughter of James and Sarah Jane Roberts Martin, born Wayne Co. in 1884.  Jr. died c1924 and she in Nov., 1945 and both are buried at the Dobbs Cemetery[1] in Coopersville, Wayne Co.

Louvada and Joseph had at least 9 children but I have only been able to locate a few of them that grew to adulthood.

Roscoe, born 1907, died 1988 at Coopersville.  Married to a lady named Ruby c1933 and had at least two children:  Geraldine, c1834 and, Velta, born c1938.  They are in the 1940 Wayne Co. census.[2]

Frank O., born Jan., 1909, married Sarah Jane Gregory, born c1911, in about 1930.  They had children Anderson, Othal, Stanley Estel and Audrey.  Frank died in 1973 and is buried at Elk Spring Cemetery in Montecello.

Joseph, born Apr., 1911, likely died young as did Elmer, born Feb., 1912 who died on Jun. 1913.  He is buried at Kidd Cemetery in McCreary Co.  Another son, Maynard, born Feb., 1914 also may have died young.  I have found no records for him.

Everett, born 1916, died in Pulaski Co. in 2007.

Inman, born c1919, died in Oct., 1965.

There appears to have been another son named Joseph, born in 1923 but I have not been able to conform that.  The last child I know of was Adina, born in 1925 for whom I have found no info.

Martin-Maher Marriage Record

Louvade had an older brother, Joseph Gilson Martin, born Jul. 2, 1875 in Wayne Co., died in Hampshie Co., MA in 1965.  Joseph left KY when he was a young man, probably in his mid-20's and joined the military.  In 1903 he was a soldier at Fort Ethan Allen in Chittenden Co., VT where he was married on June 6 of that year to Mary Agnes Maher.  They were both 27 years old.

Mary Agnes was fairly consistent in census records, telling us where he father was born.  In 1920 she reported his birth in French Canada.  In 1930 he was said to have been born in English Canada.  She was not as consistent with her mother's birth place.  In 1920 she said her mother was born in NY state and, in 1930 she told us her mother was born in VT.  We can be fairly certain that the father was Canadian and her mother was an American.  After leaving VT, the couple migrated to Northampton in Hampshire Co., MA where they lived for the remainder of their lives.  I have not however, found them in the 1910 census.

Gilson WW1 Draft (front)

Gilson WW1 Draft (rear)

They were in Northampton in Sep. 12, 1918 when Gilson Martin registered for the draft.  He made no mention of his prior service.  He was described as being tall and stout with blue eyes and "bouzs"[3] colored hair.  That year he was a cabinet maker for the Florence Furniture Co. in Florence, MA.  He and Mary lived at 18 Plymouth Ave. in Florence.

In 1920 they lived at 16 Plymouth Ave., and Joseph was a casket maker.  Mary was a spooler in a local silk mill.  In 1930 they lived at 258 West St. in Northampton and Joseph was a painting contractor while Mary was still spooling.  By 1940 they were residing at 58 Front St. in Northampton.  Mary was retired and Joseph was a laborer working on park improvements in Northampton.

Mary died in 1960 and Joseph in 1965.  Both are buried at Saint Mary Assumption Church cemetery in Haydenville, Hampshire Co., MA.  They had no children.

I feel a touch of sadness for both, but especially for Joseph.  He likely never returned to KY and probably never saw his parents or any of his siblings again.

Additions and/or corrections welcomed!

Jack

---

[1]Coopersville is a "wide spot" in the road, about 8 miles SE of Monticello.  Follow KY 92 from Monticello to Coopersville.  The cemetery is behind the Canada Creek Baptist Church on KY 92.  Geo coordinates are 36° 45' 32.81" N 84° 44' 8.55" W

[2]1940 KY, Wayne Co., ED 116-8, Sheet 10B, Coopersville to Sinking road, dwelling 171, rents, $1, Coffey Roscoe, head, male, white, age 32, married, 2d grade, born KY, same place, farm labor; Ruby, wife, female, white, age 24, married, 4th grade, born KY, same place; Geraldine, dau., female, white, age 6, born KY, same place; Velta [sic], dau., female, white, age 2, born KY

[3] I have studied the card closely and it still appears to be "bouzs" colored hair.